One-piece splash and spill resistant lid

ABSTRACT

A one-piece disposable cup lid enables drinking while inhibiting splashing and spilling by blocking straight-line paths through the lid and dispensing beverage through a well. A drinking spout can include a well having a sidewall, a bottom and a penetration into the cup, or a sloping lid section can intersect a raised rim to create a well therebetween, with a penetration in the sloping section or the rim configured to block straight-line paths, for example by upwardly hinging of a flap or depressing half of a split, convex bubble. Embodiments include baffles that force a beverage to flow through a convoluted path and/or through chambers before being consumed. Baffles can be formed in place, or by hinged movement of flaps after forming. Textures and/or protruding structures can intercept, direct, and/or influence surface tension as beverage flows across surfaces. Vent hole sizes and locations can further limit flow and spilling.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation-In-Part of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/972,309, filed on Jan. 10, 2008, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. U.S.patent application Ser. No. 11/972,309 claims priority based on U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/879,935, filed Jan. 12, 2007, which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Thisapplication also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.61/122,964, filed Dec. 16, 2008, which is also incorporated herein byreference in its entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to lids for use with drinking vessels, and moreparticularly to splash and spill resistant disposable lids for drinkingvessels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Disposable lids are frequently used in combination with drinking cups,coffee cups, and other types of drinking vessels and containers fromwhich a beverage can be consumed. Some lid designs require removal ofthe lid from the drinking vessel for consuming the beverage containedtherein, however, most commercial drinking cup lids feature adrink-through opening which allows a user to consume the beveragecontained in a drinking vessel without removing the lid therefrom. Notethat herein the terms “cup” and “vessel” are used generically to referto all types of vessels and/or containers from which a beverage may beconsumed.

Commonly used coffee cup lids typically feature a drink-through openingproximate to the perimeter of the lid in the form of a smallunobstructed aperture or hole within the lid that allows a person todrink coffee or other beverage without removing the lid from the cup. Inaddition, at least one separate vent hole is often included in adisposable lid so as to allow air to enter the cup and equalize thepressure inside the cup as the beverage is consumed.

Of course, while providing a drink-through opening in a disposable lidfacilitates consumption of the beverage therethrough without separatingthe lid from the drinking vessel, it also creates a risk that beveragecould be inadvertently splashed or spilled out through the opening ifthe cup is inadvertently tipped or jostled, or is subjected to suddenacceleration or deceleration. These situations are often encounteredwhen the cup or other drinking vessel is being transported, whether byhand or within a cup holder in a moving vehicle, or while walking,climbing stairs or traveling in an elevator or escalator.

Inadvertent spilling and splashing can create dangerous situations whena user is driving or moving. With today's busy lifestyle, consumption ofbeverages on-the-go and has become commonplace, and inadvertent spillingand splashing of beverage can be particularly irksome and embarrassingfor a user when en route to work or to a professional and/or socialengagement. The term “spilling” as generally used herein refers toinadvertent flowing of a beverage out of a cup or drinking vessel; and,the term “splashing” as generally used herein refers to the inadvertentejection or scattering from a cup of beverage droplets or modestquantities of beverage that become airborne due to sudden and/or rapidmovement of the drinking vessel.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that lids for usewith cold beverages such as sodas often include holes that fit snugglyaround drinking straws, whereby the length of the straw effectivelyprevents splashing and spilling. However, straws are typically notpractical, or at least are not preferred, when consuming a hot beveragesuch as tea, coffee, or hot chocolate.

Disposable lids designed for use with hot beverages sometimes includesmall holes or flaps near their rims that can be opened for drinking.However, turbulence or “sloshing” of a beverage when the cup is nearlyfull can easily lead to spilling of some liquid out from the hole, andjostling of the cup can cause liquid to splash or spill through such ahole or flap.

A drainage well is sometimes provided in a disposable lid so that smallamounts of liquid that do spill or splash inadvertently from thedrinking hole (or through a vent hole) will pool in a designated regionof the lid and drain back into the cup. However, such drainage wells aretypically shallow, and are only effective if the cup is maintained in anear-vertical orientation. In certain situations, jostling may evencause liquid to splash or spill out of the drainage well before it hasdrained back into the cup.

A drinking hole is sometimes placed at the top of a raised spout, so asto reduce the likelihood that liquid will spill or splash from thedrinking hole. However, since the drinking hole is in the direct path ofa beverage splash, liquid is still able to splash through the drinkinghole if the cup is shaken or jostled with sufficient force, for exampleif the beverage is being consumed while traveling in a vehicle and thevehicle drives over a pot hole or other uneven feature in the road, oris forced to brake or maneuver suddenly.

Various types of lids with closable drinking holes and/or spouts havebeen proposed and/or are in use. Some provide a rotatable second piecethat can seal the drinking hole, while others provide a tethered cap orplug that can be used to seal the drinking hole. However, theseapproaches only provide protection from spilling and splashing when thedrinking hole is closed or blocked, and do not naturally inhibitspilling and splashing when open. Furthermore, when the drinking hole isclosed or blocked it also prevents a user from consuming the beverage.In addition, these lids tend to be multi-piece constructions and may begenerally too expensive to be practical for a disposable lid, or atleast may be too cumbersome to use, as they require a user to plug andunplug the drinking hole manually each time a portion of beverage is tobe consumed.

Another approach is to provide a separate insert that can be placedeither on a cup or underneath a lid, the separate insert having fluidpassages that are not aligned with the drinking and vent openings in thelid, thereby preventing straight-line travel by splashed, airbornedroplets from the cup interior through a lid opening, and forcing thebeverage to flow through a convoluted path before exiting through thelid. However, providing and installing a separate insert in addition toa lid is inconvenient and costly as compared to using a one-piece lid,and therefore tends to be impractical for disposable lids. Also,separate inserts can become dislodged or can shift in position, and cantherefore be unreliable. This is true even if the insert is looselyattached to the lid or separately attached to the rim of the cup.

What is needed, therefore, is a disposable, one-piece lid for use with adrinking cup that enables drinking of a beverage without requiringseparation of the lid from the drinking cup, while also inherentlyinhibiting or at least minimizing inadvertent spilling and splashing ofthe beverage from the cup without requiring deployment of manual plugsor blocking devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A one-piece disposable lid is claimed that includes structural featureswhich enable drinking from a drinking cup while also inherentlyinhibiting splashing and spilling of the beverage from the drinking cupwithout requiring deployment of manual plugs or blocking devices.Spilling and splashing are inhibited by blocking straight-line pathsthat could be traversed by splashed, airborne droplets so as to escapethrough openings in the lid and by providing a dispensing well whichallows any modest quantities of beverage received or remaining into thedispensing well to be drained back into the cup when the cup is held orreturned to a near upright position.

In some embodiments, a drinking spout is included, the drinking spoutcomprising a dispensing well with at least one well penetration oropening for allowing fluid communication between the cup interior andthe dispensing well. The well penetration allows transferring ofbeverage from the cup interior to the dispensing well for allowing aperson to sip or consume the beverage by placing their lips around thedrinking spout. The direction of fluid or beverage entry, through thewell penetration, into the dispensing well from the cup interior issubstantially orthogonal to the direction of beverage exit from thedispensing well for consumption of the beverage. Splashing droplets arethereby prevented from straight-line travel out of the spout, sincebeverage must enter the well in a direction substantially orthagonal tothe central axis of the cup and then be dispensed in a directionsubstantially parallel to the central axis of the cup.

In other embodiments, the lid is elevated above the top of the cup, anda section of the lid slopes downward and intersects a raised rim wall soas to create a dispensing well therebetween. A well penetration isprovided either in the sloping section or the inner wall of the raisedrim, and is configured so that no straight-line path is provided fromthe interior of the cup into the dispensing well. In some of theseembodiments, the well penetration is formed by depressing part of asplit, convex bubble so as to form an opening through which a beveragecan travel horizontally. In certain of these embodiment a part of theconvex bubble is configured to be deformable by a user's lip so as tocreate the drink-through opening and allowing beverage to passtherethrough. In other embodiments, the opening is formed by an upwardlyhinged flap, the flap remaining above the opening so as to intercept anysplashed droplets that somehow manage to exit through the opening.

Certain embodiments include baffles and/or other structures that force abeverage to flow through a convoluted path before being consumed. Insome of these embodiments the baffles are formed in place, while inother of these embodiments the baffles are formed by hinged movement offlaps after forming of the lid. In various embodiments, the baffles formone or more chambers through which the beverage must flow before it canbe consumed.

Embodiments of the present invention include textures and/or protrudingstructures on one or more surfaces of the lid, so as to direct fluidflow across one or more surfaces, intercept splashed and/or rapidlyflowing beverage, and/or enhance or retard retention of fluid due tosurface tension.

Various embodiments include one or more vent holes that permit air toenter the cup and equalize the internal pressure as a beverage isconsumed. In some of these embodiments, the vent holes are surrounded byvent wells, and in certain of these embodiments the vent holes arestructured so as to minimize splashing by blocking straight-line passageof droplets from the cup interior through the vent holes. In some ofthese embodiments a plurality of vent holes is provided, which areinitially sealed by blockages that can be removed by a user, and in someof these embodiments the plurality of vent holes includes vent holes ofdifferent sizes. These embodiments enable a user to select how manyand/or which vent holes to open, so as to control the maximum rate atwhich a beverage can flow from the cup. In still other embodiments, atleast one vent hole is located near the dispensing well, so that tippingof the cup from vertical beyond a certain angle will cause the beveragein the cup to block the vent hole, thereby minimizing the rate ofbeverage spillage.

One general aspect of the present invention is a one-piece lid for usewith a drinking vessel. The one-piece lid includes a peripheral rimconfigured for engaging with said drinking vessel, a raised lid portionextending vertically from said peripheral rim, a dispensing welldescending from the raised lid portion, said raised lid portion and saiddispensing well being configured for allowing consumption of a beveragecontained within an interior of said drinking vessel, and at least onewell penetration that provides fluid communication between an interiorof said drinking vessel and the dispensing well, the well penetrationbeing configured for inhibiting straight-line paths between the interiorof the drinking vessel and the dispensing well and thereby inhibiting atleast one of spilling and splashing of said beverage contained withinthe interior of said drinking vessel.

Embodiments further include a drinking spout wherein the dispensing wellis formed within the drinking spout, thereby causing beverage flowingthrough the well penetration and into the dispensing well to bedrinkable from the drinking spout. In some embodiments the dispensingwell is configured for allowing beverage contained within the dispensingwell to flow through the well penetration and drain back into theinterior of the drinking vessel when the drinking vessel is held in agenerally upright orientation. In other embodiments the dispensing wellincludes a plurality of side walls and a bottom, and wherein the wellpenetration is formed in at least one of the side walls amongst saidplurality of side walls of the dispensing well.

In various embodiments the dispensing well includes a bottom and atleast one sidewall, and the well penetration is formed by a vertical gapbetween the bottom and at least one of said side walls. In certainembodiments the dispensing well is formed by side walls, a first bottomtier, and a second bottom tier, the well penetration being formed by avertical gap between said first bottom tier and said second bottom tier.

In some embodiments the dispensing well is formed by side walls and abottom, and at least a portion of the bottom is inclined toward the wellpenetration, thereby allowing beverage contained in the dispensing wellto drain back through the well penetration into the interior of thedrinking vessel when the drinking vessel is returned to a generallyupright orientation. In other embodiments the dispensing well comprisesa plurality of well penetrations, each of the well penetrationsproviding fluid communication between the interior of the drinkingvessel and the dispensing well. And certain embodiments further includea splash guard descending from the raised lid portion toward theinterior of the drinking vessel and surrounding the dispensing well.

Various embodiments further include at least one fluid baffle positionedunderneath the dispensing well and configured to deflect beveragesplashing from the interior of the drinking vessel and requiring thebeverage to move through a convoluted path when flowing from theinterior of the drinking vessel to the dispensing well. In some of theseembodiments said at least one fluid baffle comprises a hinged flap, saidhinged flap being rotatable about a living hinge. In other of theseembodiments, said at least one fluid baffle comprises a hinge flap and astop ridge, said hinge flap being rotatable about a living hinge andconfigured for engaging with said stop ridge.

In certain embodiments the dispensing well is formed by an intersectionbetween a downward sloping section of the raised lid portion and araised drinking rim. In some of these embodiments the well penetrationis formed by a hinged flap formed in an inner wall of the raiseddrinking rim. In other of these embodiments said downward slopingsection comprises a split, convex bubble, and said well penetration iscreated by depressing a first portion of said split, convex bubble intoa concave configuration thereby creating an opening between said firstconcave bubble portion and an adjacent second convex bubble portion. Insome of these embodiments a reinforcing structure is provided such saidsecond convex bubble portion is resistant to depression compared to saidfirst concave bubble portion. And in other of these embodiments saidfirst portion of said split, convex bubble is depressible by a lip of auser while drinking from said dispensing well.

Certain embodiments further include a vent hole providing aircommunication between the interior of the drinking vessel and airexterior to the lid. Some of these embodiments further include a ventwell cooperative with the vent hole and configured for collection ofescaped beverage and allowing said escaped beverage to flow back intothe interior of the drinking vessel. In other of these embodiments thevent hole is configured to inhibit straight-line paths from the interiorof the drinking vessel through the vent hole. Various of theseembodiments further include a plurality of sealed vent holes, saidsealed vent holes being openable for regulating beverage flow from thedispensing well. And in some of these embodiments said plurality ofsealed vent holes includes a plurality of vent hole sizes. In variousembodiments that further include a vent hole, the vent hole is locatedproximal to the dispensing well for allowing blockage of the vent holeby beverage when the drinking vessel is tipped to a near horizontalorientation, thereby inhibiting beverage flow from the dispensing well.

In certain embodiments at least one surface of the lid includes at leastone of a texture and a protruding structure configured to influence flowof beverage across said at least one surface. In some embodiments saidlid is constructed from at least one of paper, plastic, thermoplasticresin, foam, a laminated material, a compostable resin, and abiodegradable material. In other embodiments said lid is manufactured byone of thermoforming, injection molding, compression molding, vacuumforming, pressure forming, and hydro forming. In various embodimentssaid lid is injection molded from a suitable grade of polypropyleneresin. And in certain embodiments said lid is disposable.

In various embodiments said well penetration is in the form of anopening disposed in a plane approximately parallel to an upright axis ofthe cup. Other embodiments further include a drink-through opening insaid raised lid portion. And in some of these embodiments saiddrink-through opening is one of circular, rectangular, oval, andsemi-circular.

In certain embodiments the dispensing well and well penetration areconfigured to inhibit entry of solid particulates from the drinkingvessel into the dispensing well. And in other embodiments said beverageis a drinkable fluid including one of tea, coffee, soup, shake, juice,and milk.

Another general aspect of the present invention is a splash resistantlid for a drink cup. The splash resistant lid includes a peripheral rimadapted for engaging with said drink cup, a raised portion extendingupwardly from said peripheral rim, and a dispensing well disposed insaid raised portion, said dispensing well comprising a drink-throughopening, a bottom wall and a peripheral sidewall connected to saidbottom wall,

said dispensing well featuring at least one inlet opening disposedproximate to an edge of said bottom wall, said inlet opening beingadapted for receiving a beverage from said drink cup and transferring itto said drink-through opening, said dispensing well being adapted fordrinking said beverage therethrough, and

said inlet opening being disposed in a plane substantially orthogonal tosaid drink-through opening and thereby inhibiting straight line pathsbetween an interior of said drink cup and said drink-through opening.

In some embodiments said bottom wall comprises at least one inclinedsection, said inclined section having an underside, said underside beingadapted to deflect any splashes and block them from entering saiddrink-through opening. In other embodiments said bottom wall comprisesat least one inclined section, said inclined section having a topside,said topside being adapted to drain back any splashes to said interiorof said drink cup through said inlet opening.

In certain embodiments said lid is injection molded, and in variousembodiments said lid is made from polypropylene resin.

In some embodiments said raised portion includes a drinking spout andforms a one piece construction. Other embodiments further include atleast one splash guard descending from said raised portion towards theinterior of said drink cup. Certain embodiments further include a fluidbaffle positioned underneath said dispensing well. And in some of theseembodiments said fluid baffle is rotatable about a living hinge.

The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and,in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparentto one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings,specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that thelanguage used in the specification has been principally selected forreadability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope ofthe inventive subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a cross sectional perspective view of an embodiment thatincludes a central vent hole with a surrounding vent well and a drinkingspout containing a dispensing well having a sloped bottom with avertical gap open to the cup interior along one edge of the slopedbottom;

FIG. 1B is a close-up illustration of the spout and dispensing wellportion of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C is a close-up illustration of the spout and dispensing wellportion of an embodiment similar to FIG. 1B, but having a well bottomthat is centrally divided into two offset horizontal halves with avertical gap therebetween that is open to the cup interior;

FIG. 1D is a close-up illustration of the spout and dispensing wellportion of an embodiment similar to FIG. 1C, but having a well bottomthat is centrally divided into two offset halves that slope towards eachother with a vertical gap therebetween;

FIG. 1E is a close-up illustration of the spout and dispensing wellportion of an embodiment similar to FIG. 1D, but having a well bottomthat is centrally divided into two halves that slope away from eachother toward vertical gaps at their edges, the sloped bottom halvesincluding surface structures that encourage drainage toward the verticalgaps;

FIG. 1F is a close-up illustration of the spout and dispensing wellportion of an embodiment similar to FIG. 1B, but having a dispensingwell bottom that is horizontal and dispensing well walls that include aplurality of vertical penetrations through which beverage can flow intoand out of the dispensing well, the dispensing well being surrounded bya splash guard within the drinking spout that prevents laterally movingbeverage from directly flowing through the penetrations and into thedispensing well;

FIG. 1G is a close-up illustration of the spout and dispensing wellportion of an embodiment similar to FIG. 1F, but having a well bottomthat is formed by a horizontal baffle extending beyond the dispensingwell to the inner walls of the spout;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a disposable lid that includes a raisedupper portion having a section that is ramped downward toward a raiseddrinking rim so as to form a dispensing well therebetween, a splitbubble being included in the sloping section, both halves of the splitbubble being convexly configured so as to close the split between them,a plurality of vent holes being provided in separate vent hole drainingwells, the vent holes being configured with split offset openings so asto inhibit splashing of beverage therethrough;

FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the disposable lid of FIG. 2A whereinone half of the split bubble has been depressed into a concaveconfiguration, creating thereby a vertical opening between the twohalves of the split bubble;

FIG. 2C is a perspective cross sectional view of the embodiment of FIG.2B;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment similar to FIG. 2A, butincluding a vertical well penetration formed in the inner wall of thedrinking rim by an upwardly hinged flap, the flap being positioned tointercept splashed droplets that somehow travel through the verticalpenetration, a pair of vent holes also being included near thepenetration;

FIG. 4A is a cross-section profile through an embodiment similar to FIG.1A, but including an internal hinged flap and stop ridge, the hingedflap being hingedly rotatable about a living hinge so as to engage withthe stop ridge and thereby form a baffle within the drinking spout;

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional profile through the embodiment of FIG. 4A,showing the hinged flap engaged with the stop ridge so as to form thebaffle within the drinking spout;

FIG. 4C is a perspective view from above of the embodiment of FIG. 4A,indicating the location of the living hinge;

FIG. 4D is a perspective view from below of the embodiment of FIG. 4A,showing the hinged flap engaged with the stop ridge so as to form thebaffle below the dispensing well in the drinking spout;

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional profile through the drinking spout portionof an embodiment similar to FIG. 4A, but including two offset hingedflaps attached by living hinges to opposing inner sides of the drinkingspout and two corresponding stop ridges;

FIG. 5B is a cross sectional profile of the embodiment of FIG. 5A,showing both of the hinged flaps engaged with the corresponding stopridges so as to form a pair of vertically offset horizontal baffleswithin the drinking spout;

FIG. 6A is a perspective view from above of an embodiment similar toFIG. 5A, but including three hinged flaps offset vertically andcircumferentially about the lid and attached alternately to the innerand outer sides of the drinking spout;

FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 6A from below,showing the three hinged flaps engaged with corresponding stop ridges soas to form overlapping baffles below the dispensing well of the drinkingspout;

FIG. 6C is a simplified diagram showing the relative horizontal andvertical offsets of the hinged flaps of FIG. 6B;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an embodiment similar to FIG. 6A, butwherein the hinged flaps include angled edges and protruding portions;and

FIG. 7B is a simplified diagram showing the relative positioning andoffsets of the hinged flaps of FIG. 7A, and indicating how the anglededges and protruding portions cause the flaps to form a single,multi-level baffle with flow-directing surface features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is generally directed towards one-piece lids thatengage with a drinking cup or a similar vessel and allow a user to drinktherefrom while naturally inhibiting splashing and spilling of beveragefrom the drinking vessel. As noted elsewhere, the lid constructionsaccording to various embodiments of the invention offer particularutility for disposable drinking cups which are typically used forholding cold and hot beverages and are generally constructed from paper,plastic or foam materials. The drinking spout and dispensing wellconstructions in accordance with various embodiments of the inventioncan be utilized for consuming all kinds of hot and cold beveragesincluding, coffee, tea, soup, shakes, frappes, and slush drinks.According to still other embodiments of the invention the lid spout anddispensing well constructions can be used for dispensing fluid materialsincluding dressing, vinegar, coffee cream etc. According to still otherembodiments of the invention the dispensing well construction can beadapted for sprinkling salt, pepper, spices and/or other granular orpowdered substances. Accordingly, the following description of specificembodiments, in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, is offeredas illustrative of the invention, and should not be regarded asrestricting the scope of the invention.

With reference to FIG. 1A, there is shown a cut-away perspective view ofa one-piece disposable lid 100 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Lid 100 is adapted to engage with and fit onto a drinking cup(not shown). Lid 100 has an outer side 30 and an underside 40. The outerside 30 of lid 100 is intended to be on the outside when lid 100 isfitted on the drinking cup in the intended manner of use for consuming abeverage therefrom. Underside 40 of lid 100 is the side that is towardsthe cup when lid 100 is placed on the cup in the intended manner. Notethat herein the term “cup” is used generically to refer to all types ofvessels or containers from which a beverage may be consumed and/ordispensed.

Lid 100 is formed by a single piece construction and can be manufacturedusing a variety of methods and materials. According to variousembodiments of the invention the lid can be constructed from a plasticmaterial, a paper substrate, a biodegradable material, a compostablematerial, or a combination of heterogeneous materials including at leastone of paper, plastic, and foam materials or from mixtures thereof.According to other embodiments of the present invention the lid can bemolded, formed, pressed, fabricated, or shaped utilizing a variety ofprocessing methods and manufacturing techniques. According to a specificembodiment of the invention the lid 100 can be injection molded from asuitable plastic material. According to another embodiment of theinvention the lid 100 can be made of polypropylene or similarthermoplastic resins. According to still other embodiments of theinvention lid 100 can be thermoformed or compression molded.

Lid 100 includes structural features 102, 104 which allow a beveragecontained in a drinking cup to be drunk through the lid 100; and whichalso inhibit splashing and spilling of the beverage from the drinkingcup through the lid 100 without requiring closing or capping of a lidopening. Spilling and splashing are inhibited by substantially blockingor obstructing straight-line paths that could be traversed from the cupinterior through openings in the lid 100 by splashed, airborne dropletsor fluid masses; and by providing a dispensing well 104 which allowsmodest quantities of beverage which may reach the dispensing wellinadvertently, due to movement or sudden acceleration or deceleration ofthe drinking cup, to be drained back into the drinking cup. In someembodiments, the dispensing well 104 is able to contain at least 0.25 mlof beverage when the drinking vessel is tipped from vertical by not morethan 45 degrees.

Lid 100 comprises an outer peripheral portion 50, an interim annularportion 60 raised above outer peripheral portion 50, and a central bodyportion 70.

Outer peripheral portion 50 of lid 100 is adapted for engaging with thedrinking cup, and underside 40 has an underside peripheral channel 54which typically has a C-shaped or U-shaped cross-section and which isadapted to grip and receive a drinking cup lip therein, and thereby forma leak-tight seal between the respective perimeters of lid 100 and thedrinking cup adapted for use therewith. The drinking cup lip maycomprise a rolled-lip or bead-like configuration. Alternately, the cuplip may be in the form of a turned-down lip or other similarconfiguration as is well known to those skilled in the art.

Outer peripheral portion 50 of lid 100 also has a peripheral skirt 52which extends downwardly from the underside peripheral channel 54 andflares outwardly therefrom. Peripheral skirt 52 facilitates a goodlid-fit by centering and guiding the drinking cup lip within peripheralchannel 54 when lid 100 is pushed downwardly against the cup lip forsecurely snapping lid 100 onto the cup.

Interim annular portion 60 comprises an outer sidewall 61, a top wall 62and an inner sidewall 63. Underside peripheral channel 54 is connectedto outer sidewall 61 and defines a peripheral recess 56 therebetween;peripheral recess 56 is disposed on the outer side 30 of lid 100.Interim annular portion 60 extends upwardly from the inward edge ofperipheral recess 56 along outer sidewall 61 which connects with a topwall portion 62 and slopes downwardly along inner sidewall 63 andcircumscribes central body portion 70 of lid 100. Outer sidewall 61, topwall 62 and inner sidewall 63 cooperate to form a raised frontal sectionor drinking spout 102 and ramp down on either side of the raised frontalsection or drinking spout 102. Interim annular portion 60 is generallyshaped so as to minimize incidental contact of the lid with a consumer'snose and upper lip during consumption of a beverage. Drinking spout 102is shaped for allowing consumption of the beverage without requiring aconsumer to excessively tilt his or her head backwards as the cupapproaches the final sips, thereby avoiding line-of-sight impediment.

The inner sidewall 63 of the interim annual portion 60 is connected tothe central body portion 70 of lid 100 via mid wall 72. Mid wall 72 mayalso include a vent hole 110. Vent hole 110 is adapted for maintainingpressure equilibrium between the interior of the lidded cup and thesurroundings thus allowing the user to comfortably drink from the cup.Vent hole 110 may further serve as a drain hole for any excess beveragethat accidentally overflows on the top of central body portion 70. Whilethe vent hole 110 is shown to be centrally located in FIG. 1A, it willbe realized that in similar embodiments the vent hole 110 is locatedelsewhere on the lid 100. In the embodiment of FIG. 1A, the centrallylocated vent hole 110 is surrounded by a collecting well 106 that cancollect small amounts of leaked beverage or overflow and allow thebeverage to drain back through the vent hole 110 and into the cup.

Drinking spout 102 includes a beverage dispensing well 104 located inthe top wall 62. The raised frontal section or drinking spout 102 andthe width of the top wall 62 in the frontal section of lid 100 areadapted and dimensioned for positioning the raised frontal section ordrinking spout 102 between a person's lips for drinking comfortablytherethrough. During use, the outer sidewall 61 is adapted for touchingthe person's bottom lip while the inner sidewall 63 is adapted fortouching the upper lip of the person.

According to other embodiments of the invention, the location ofdrinking spout 102 is adapted for regulating the quantity of beveragedispensed therefrom while sipping, and/or the vent hole is locatedproximate to the drinking spout 102 for preventing spillage therethroughwhen, for example, the cup is accidentally knocked over sideways. Thusthe flow of beverage that is dosed out of the dispensing well 104 isregulated by the differential in air pressure inside the cup vs. airpressure of the surroundings since, when the vent hole 110 becomesplugged by beverage, no additional beverage can issue out of the spout102 until the user puts the cup down and allows re-equilibration of airpressure between the inside of the cup and the surroundings. This isparticularly helpful when the beverage inside the cup is hot and aninadvertently large sip can burn a consumer's mouth.

The construction of the drinking spout 102 is shown in FIG. 1B. Thebeverage dispensing well 104 has downwardly projecting peripheral wallscomprising a front wall 82; a pair of downwardly projecting sidewalls112 (only one sidewall is visible in the cutaway view shown in FIG. 1B);a downwardly projecting back wall 83; and an inclined bottom wall 114.Back wall 83 is shown with a side opening 116 located adjacent to thelower edge of the bottom wall 114 which is adapted for allowing beveragefrom the cup to be fed to the dispensing well 104 thereby forming adrink-through opening defined by the dispensing well walls and the upperperipheral edge 86 of the well 104. Arrow 90 represents the flow of thebeverage from side opening 116 to the upper peripheral edge 86 of thewell 106 when the cup-lid assembly is tilted by a person for consumingthe beverage. Opening 116 lies in a plane that is substantially verticaland parallel to the upright cup axis.

The positioning and orientation of the opening 116 in cooperation withthe depth and configuration of the dispensing well 104 inhibit splashedbeverage from becoming airborne and escaping from the drinking spout. Ifa small amount of beverage from the cup inadvertently andunintentionally passes through the opening 116, for example due totipping, shaking, or jostling of the cup, the liquid will remain in thedispensing well 104 and drain back through the opening 116 into the cup.

In the embodiments shown herein, all the features and wall members areintegral to the lid 100 and hence allow lid 100 to be molded, formed ormanufactured as a one piece structure. It will be realized that variousmodifications of this concept can be made by manipulating the angle ofinclination of bottom wall 114, or providing a plurality of openings inany of the wall portions defined by pair of sidewalls 112, front wall 82and back wall 83.

According to another embodiment of the invention (not shown) theinclination of the bottom wall 114 is reversed and instead of having aninclination towards the back wall 83, as shown in FIG. 1B bottom wall114 is tilted towards front wall 82 and the side opening 116 fortransferring beverage is provided in the front wall 82.

In yet another embodiment the openings are provided in the pair ofsidewalls 112 and the bottom wall 114 comprises two inclined portionsone inclined towards one sidewall and the other inclined towards anothersidewall. Thus, the specific inclination of bottom wall 114 or thelocation of the side opening 116 is shown in FIG. 1B by way ofillustration, and is not intended as a limitation of the invention.

According to a specific embodiment of the invention, lid 100 is made ofa suitable thermoplastic material which can be processed by commonpolymer processing methods known in the art. The choice of athermoplastic resin is typically governed by a variety of factorsincluding cost, resin processability, and other functional requirementsof the plastic part. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, lid 100is injection molded from a suitable grade of polypropylene resin.However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that lid 100can be adapted for manufacture by other known methods of processingplastics, including thermoforming, vacuum forming, pressure forming, andcompression molding. Lid 100 can also be constructed from a suitablematerial such as foam, coated paper, or paper/plastic laminates suitablefor handling the conditions of use and the temperatures typicallyemployed while serving hot and cold beverages.

Although, some variations in the shown embodiment have been discussedabove, numerous other embodiments are possible and within the scope ofthe invention.

FIG. 1C shows an enlarged cutaway view of the spout portion according toanother embodiment of the invention wherein the lid parts bear the samereference numerals as in FIG. 1B. Dispensing well 104 has a downwardlyprojecting front wall 82; a pair of downwardly projecting sidewalls 112(only one sidewall is visible in the cutaway view shown in FIG. 1C); adownwardly projecting back wall 83; a first tier bottom wall 114A and asecond tier bottom wall 114B. A vertical opening 116 is disposed betweenfirst tier bottom wall 114A and second tier bottom wall 114B. Verticalopening 116 is adapted for allowing beverage from the cup to be fed tothe dispensing well 104, thereby forming a drink-through opening definedby the dispensing well walls and the upper peripheral edge 86 of thedispensing well 104. Arrow 90 represents the flow of the beverage fromvertical opening 116 to the upper peripheral edge 86 of the dispensingwell 104 when the cup-lid assembly is tilted by a person for consumingthe beverage.

FIG. 1D shows an enlarged cutaway view of the dispensing well portion102 according to yet another embodiment of the invention wherein the lidparts bear the same reference numerals as FIGS. 1B and 1C. Dispensingwell 104 has a downwardly projecting front wall 82; a pair of downwardlyprojecting well sidewalls 112 (only one well sidewall is visible in thecutaway view shown in FIG. 4); a downwardly projecting well back wall83; and a first tier well bottom wall 114A and a second tier well bottomwall 114B. A vertical opening 116 is disposed between first tier bottomwall 114A and second tier bottom wall 114B. Vertical opening 116 isadapted for allowing beverage from the cup to be fed to the well 104thereby forming a drink-through opening defined by the well walls andthe upper peripheral edge 86 of the dispensing well 104. The first andsecond tier bottom walls 114A and 114B are inclined towards the verticalopening 116 so as to allow any excess beverage to drain back into thecup. Arrow 90 represents the flow of the beverage from vertical opening116 to the upper peripheral edge 86 of the well 104 when the cup-lidassembly is tilted by a person for consuming the beverage.

FIG. 1E shows an enlarged cutaway view of the drinking spout portion 102according to still another embodiment of the invention wherein the lidparts bear the same reference numerals as FIGS. 1B through 1D. Well 104has a downwardly projecting well front wall 82; a pair of downwardlyprojecting well sidewalls 112 (only one well sidewall is visible in thecutaway view shown in FIG. 1E); a downwardly projecting well back wall83; and a first inclined well bottom wall 114A and a second inclinedwell bottom wall 114B. A first side opening 116A is provided in the wellback wall 83. A second side opening 116B is provided in the well frontwall 82. First side opening 116A and second side opening 116B areadapted for allowing beverage from the cup to be fed to the well 104thereby forming a drink-through opening defined by the well walls andthe upper peripheral edge 86 of the well 104. The first and secondinclined well bottom walls 114A and 114B are inclined towards theopenings 116A and 116B, respectively so as to allow any excess beverageto drain back into the cup. Arrows 90A and 90B represent the respectiveflows of the beverage from side openings 116A and 116B to the upperperipheral edge 86 of the well 104 when the cup-lid assembly is tiltedby a person for consuming the beverage.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1E, surface structures 118 are included on thetop surfaces of bottom walls 114A, 114B, so as to guide and encouragebeverage to flow back into the cup if it is inadvertently splashed orspilled into the dispensing well 104.

Different fluids have different viscosities and different surfacetension and/or wetting characteristics. Accordingly, some embodiments ofthe present invention include textures, baffles, and/or other structuralfeatures 118 on various surfaces so as to intercept splashed droplets orrapidly flowing beverage, direct beverage flow, and/or promote orinhibit surface tension and flow properties of beverage on the surfaces.Furthermore, it will be appreciated by skilled artisans that the depthof the dispensing well 104 and the size of the side opening 116 can beoptimized with respect to viscosity and fluid properties of a typicalbeverage so as to control the amount of beverage that is likely to besplashed into the dispensing well when the drink cup is jostled thespeed with which the beverage can be drained back into the cup, and theamount of beverage that can be spilled through the opening 116 withoutoverflowing the dispensing well 104. For example, on one hand a deeperwell 104 and a relatively small opening 116 may be desirable to providesuperior spill and splash resistance, however, a small opening 116 mayalso interferes with the rate of dispensing and a drainage back into thecup and may adversely affect ease of drinking.

FIG. 1F illustrates the spout portion of yet another embodiment of thepresent invention. In this embodiment, the dispensing well 104 has aflat bottom 114 surrounded by walls that are penetrated by a pluralityof vertical openings 116. The number and sizes of the openings areselected in various embodiments so as to provide a desired rate of flowduring drinking, while intercepting and breaking up most splashedairborne droplets that might somehow strike the openings. The inhibitionof splashing in this embodiment is further enhanced by a splash-guardingbaffle 120 within the drinking spout 102 that surrounds the outside ofthe dispensing well 104. The splash-guarding baffle 120 is configuredfor blocking direct access to openings 116, and so as to require abeverage to flow vertically through a narrow space between the baffle120 and the well 104 before changing directions and flowing horizontallythrough the openings into the dispensing well 104.

In various embodiments, the sizes and numbers of the openings 116, aswell as the complexity of the path through which a beverage must flowbefore entering the dispensing well 104, result in a short delay betweentipping of the cup and effluence of the beverage, thereby providing anopportunity to prevent, or at least to limit, spilling of the beverageif the cup is accidentally overturned by quickly returning the cup to anupright orientation. Space between the dispensing well 104 and the innerwalls of the drinking spout 102 also allows any particulates containedin the beverage, such as coffee grounds or tea leaves, to be collectedand prevented from flowing out of the cup with the beverage.

FIG. 1G illustrates an embodiment wherein the bottom of the dispensingwell 104 is formed by a baffle 114 that extends beyond the dispensingwell 104 to the inner surfaces of the walls of the drinking spout 102.This creates secondary openings 122 through which the beverage must flowbefore passing through the primary openings 116 and into the dispensingwell. Note that in this embodiment beverage must flow in threeorthogonal directions before emerging from the cup. First, the beveragemust flow circumferentially through a secondary opening 122 so as toreach the upper surface of the baffle 114. Then the fluid must flowradially through a primary opening 116 into the dispensing well 104.Finally, the fluid must flow vertically (i.e. axially) so as to emergeout of the dispensing well 104.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an embodiment in which the lid 200includes a raised portion 202, a section of which 204 slopes downwardtoward a raised drinking rim 206 so as to form therebetween a dispensingwell. The raised portion 202 includes a plurality of vent holes 208,each surrounded by a separate vent well 210 that is able to collectsmall amounts of spilled beverage and allow it to drain back into thecup. In some embodiments, the vent holes 208 are positioned relative tothe dispensing well so as to maximize delivery to the nose of a consumerof aroma from the beverage contained within the cup.

The sloping section 204 of the lid 200 has formed therein a convexbubble that is split into two halves 212A, 212B. When both of the bubblehalves 212A, 212B are in a convex configuration, as shown in FIG. 2A,the edges of the two halves 212A, 212B meet, and beverage is inhibitedfrom passing therebetween.

As illustrated in FIG. 2B, when one half 212A of the bubble is pressedinto a concave configuration, for example when a user presses on theupper half 212A of the bubble so as to begin consuming the beverage, asubstantially vertical opening is formed between the two bubble halves212A, 212B, through which the beverage can pass when the cup is tippedso as to flow into the dispensing well adjacent to the drinking rim 206and thereby be available for drinking. The configuration of the openingbetween the bubble halves 212A, 212B requires the beverage to flow in asubstantially horizontal direction so as to pass through the opening.This configuration tends to inhibit passage of splashed, airbornedroplets through the opening, since the splashed droplets would tend tostrike the lid 200 while traveling in a vertical direction. By enablinga user to press on a portion of the split bubble, and thereby open thepassage for beverage to flow into the dispensing well, the embodiment ofFIG. 2B thereby tends to shift liability for use of the invention from asupplier to a user.

According to some embodiments of the invention, bubble half 212A isconfigured to undergo deformation against slight pressure exerted by auser's upper lip while the user is drinking therefrom, thereby obviatingthe need for pre-depressing the bubble half 212A.

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional illustration of the embodiment of FIG. 2B.Note that the vent holes 208 also include a split-bubble configurationthat tends to prevent splashing of beverage through the vent holes 208.Note also that the embodiment of FIG. 2C includes a stiffening feature214 applied to the underside of the bubble half 212B that prevents auser from inadvertently depressing the bubble half 212B.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of lid 300 according to an embodiment ofthe invention similar to FIG. 2A, but including an upwardly hinged flap302 that forms an opening in the inner wall of the drinking rim 206. Theopening is configured so as to require a beverage to flow horizontallythrough the opening. This configuration inhibits passage of splashed,airborne droplets through the opening, since the splashed droplets wouldtend to strike the lid 300 while traveling vertically. In addition, theupwardly hinged flap 302 is positioned so as to intercept any airbornedroplets that somehow manage to fly through the opening.

FIG. 4A is a cross-section profile through lid 400 which is similar tothe embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, but additionally includes an upwardlyhinged flap 402 attached by a “living hinge” 406 to an inner wall of thespout 102. The embodiment 400 also includes a stop ridge 404 locatedopposite the living hinge 406 on the opposing inner wall of the drinkingspout 102. The hinged flap 402 is hingedly rotatable about the livinghinge 406 so as to engage with the stop ridge 404 and form thereby ahorizontal baffle within the drinking spout 102 and below the dispensingwell 104.

FIG. 4B shows lid 400 with the hinged flap 402 engaged with the stopridge 404 so as to form the baffle 402 below the dispensing well 104within the drinking spout 102. The horizontal baffle 402 therebyrequires the beverage to flow through a convoluted path before enteringthe dispensing well 104. Specifically, in the embodiment shown in FIG.4B, any beverage splashed in the vertical direction is deflected by theunderside of the hinged flap 402, and the beverage must first reach theregion above the top surface of the hinged flap 402, and then splash upand sideways into the dispensing well 104, before emerging verticallyfrom the dispensing well 104.

FIG. 4C is a perspective view from above of lid 400 of FIG. 4A,indicating the location of the living hinge 406 that attaches the hingedflap 402 to the inner wall of the drinking spout 102. FIG. 4D is aperspective view from below of the embodiment of FIG. 4A, showing thehinged flap 402 engaged with the stop ridge 404 so as to form the bafflebelow the dispensing well 104 in the drinking spout 102.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional profile through the drinking spout portionof lid 500, according to an embodiment similar to FIG. 4A, but includingtwo hinged flaps 502, 504 attached by living hinges 506, 508 to opposinginner sides of the drinking spout 102, the living hinges 506, 508 beingvertically offset from each other. Two corresponding stop ridges 510,512 are included on the inner walls of the drinking spout 102, with onestop ridge 510 located opposite the upper living hinge 502, and theother stop ridge 512 located opposite to the lower living hinge 504.

FIG. 5B is a cross sectional profile of the embodiment of FIG. 5A,showing both of the hinged flaps 502, 504 engaged with the correspondingstop ridges 510, 512 so as to form a pair of vertically offset baffles502, 504 within the drinking spout 102. The flaps 502, 504 areconfigured so that when the flaps 502, 504 are engaged with the stopridges 510, 512, one side of each flap 502, 504 is flush with a side ofthe drinking spout 102, the two flaps 502, 504 being flush with opposingsides of the drinking spout 102, so as to force the beverage to flow upone side of the drinking spout 102, across the first flap 504, up theother side of the drinking spout 102, and across the other flap 502before entering the dispensing well 104.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views from above and from belowrespectively of lid 600 according to an embodiment similar to theembodiment of FIG. 5A, but including three hinged flaps 602, 604, 606attached by living hinges 608, 610, 612 to inner walls of the drinkingspout 102 at locations offset both vertically and circumferentially andalternating between opposing walls of the drinking spout 102. As shownin FIG. 6B, the flaps 602, 604, 606 can be engaged with stop ridges 614,616, 618 located opposite the living hinges 608, 610, 612 so as to forma series of baffles below the dispensing well 104. FIG. 6C is asimplified diagram showing the relative horizontal and vertical offsetsof the hinged flaps 602, 604, 606 of FIG. 6B.

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of lid 700 according to an embodimentsimilar to the embodiment of FIG. 6A, but wherein the hinged flapsinclude angled edges 714 and/or protruding portions 716. As shown in thesimplified diagram of FIG. 7B, the angled edges 714 cause the flaps 702,704, 706 to form a single, multi-level baffle below the dispensing well104 with flow-directing surface features 716 when the flaps 702, 704,706 are engaged with the corresponding stop ridges 708, 710, 712.

Although various general functional elements of the present invention,including various dispensing well, spout and baffle geometries, havebeen described herein in conjunction with the figures, it will beappreciated by those skilled in the art that numerous shape, appearanceand design modifications can be made to the lid, dispensing well, andspout geometries of the present invention in accordance with user andmarket preferences. Furthermore, the utility of the spill resistant lidis not necessarily limited to a drinking-cup lid, and can be implementedinto other container structures such as a closure for a bottle, or apour spout for a bottle or a carton or a cup. In addition, the spoutgeometry can be implemented not only for consumable or drinkablebeverages but also for dosing and dispensing salad dressings, cream,milk, and non-fluid materials such as sugar or salt. These and othersuch changes, modifications, adaptations and alterations in thespecifically described embodiments can be carried out without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawingsand the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, andnot as restrictive.

The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has beenpresented for the purposes of illustration and for providing a generalunderstanding of the invention. It is not intended to be exhaustive orto limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modificationsand variations are possible in light of this disclosure. It is intendedthat the scope of the invention be limited not by this detaileddescription, but rather by the claims appended hereto.

1. A one-piece lid for use with a drinking vessel, said one-piece lidcomprising: a peripheral rim configured for engaging with said drinkingvessel; a raised lid portion extending vertically from said peripheralrim; a dispensing well descending from the raised lid portion, saidraised lid portion and said dispensing well being configured forallowing consumption of a beverage contained within an interior of saiddrinking vessel; and at least one well penetration that provides fluidcommunication between an interior of said drinking vessel and thedispensing well, the well penetration being configured for inhibitingstraight-line paths between the interior of the drinking vessel and thedispensing well and thereby inhibiting at least one of spilling andsplashing of said beverage contained within the interior of saiddrinking vessel.
 2. The one-piece lid of claim 1 further comprising adrinking spout wherein the dispensing well is formed within the drinkingspout, thereby causing beverage flowing through the well penetration andinto the dispensing well to be drinkable from the drinking spout.
 3. Theone-piece lid of claim 1, wherein the dispensing well is configured forallowing beverage contained within the dispensing well to flow throughthe well penetration and drain back into the interior of the drinkingvessel when the drinking vessel is held in a generally uprightorientation.
 4. The one-piece lid of claim 1, wherein the dispensingwell comprises a plurality of side walls and a bottom, and wherein thewell penetration is formed in at least one of the side walls amongstsaid plurality of side walls of the dispensing well.
 5. The one-piecelid of claim 1, wherein the dispensing well comprises a bottom and atleast one sidewall, and wherein the well penetration is formed by avertical gap between the bottom and at least one of said side walls. 6.The one-piece lid of claim 1, wherein the dispensing well is formed byside walls, a first bottom tier, and a second bottom tier, the wellpenetration being formed by a vertical gap between said first bottomtier and said second bottom tier.
 7. The one-piece lid of claim 1,wherein the dispensing well is formed by side walls and a bottom, and atleast a portion of the bottom is inclined toward the well penetration,thereby allowing beverage contained in the dispensing well to drain backthrough the well penetration into the interior of the drinking vesselwhen the drinking vessel is returned to a generally upright orientation.8. The one-piece lid of claim 1, wherein the dispensing well comprises aplurality of well penetrations, each of the well penetrations providingfluid communication between the interior of the drinking vessel and thedispensing well.
 9. The one-piece lid of claim 1, further comprising asplash guard descending from the raised lid portion toward the interiorof the drinking vessel and surrounding the dispensing well.
 10. Theone-piece lid of claim 1, further comprising at least one fluid bafflepositioned underneath the dispensing well and configured to deflectbeverage splashing from the interior of the drinking vessel andrequiring the beverage to move through a convoluted path when flowingfrom the interior of the drinking vessel to the dispensing well.
 11. Theone-piece lid of claim 10, wherein said at least one fluid bafflecomprises a hinged flap, said hinged flap being rotatable about a livinghinge.
 12. The one-piece lid of claim 10, wherein said at least onefluid baffle comprises a hinge flap and a stop ridge, said hinge flapbeing rotatable about a living hinge and configured for engaging withsaid stop ridge.
 13. The one-piece lid of claim 1, wherein thedispensing well is formed by an intersection between a downward slopingsection of the raised lid portion and a raised drinking rim.
 14. Theone-piece lid of claim 13, wherein the well penetration is formed by ahinged flap formed in an inner wall of the raised drinking rim.
 15. Theone-piece lid of claim 13, wherein said downward sloping sectioncomprises a split, convex bubble, and wherein said well penetration iscreated by depressing a first portion of said split, convex bubble intoa concave configuration thereby creating an opening between said firstconcave bubble portion and an adjacent second convex bubble portion. 16.The disposable lid of claim 15, wherein a reinforcing structure isprovided such said second convex bubble portion is resistant todepression compared to said first concave bubble portion.
 17. Thedisposable lid of claim 15, wherein said first portion of said split,convex bubble is depressible by a lip of a user while drinking from saiddispensing well.
 18. The one-piece lid of claim 1, further comprising avent hole providing air communication between the interior of thedrinking vessel and air exterior to the lid.
 19. The one-piece lid ofclaim 18, further comprising a vent well cooperative with the vent holeand configured for collection of escaped beverage and allowing saidescaped beverage to flow back into the interior of the drinking vessel.20. The one-piece lid of claim 18, wherein the vent hole is configuredto inhibit straight-line paths from the interior of the drinking vesselthrough the vent hole.
 21. The one-piece lid of claim 18, furthercomprising a plurality of sealed vent holes, said sealed vent holesbeing openable for regulating beverage flow from the dispensing well.22. The one-piece lid of claim 21, wherein said plurality of sealed ventholes includes a plurality of vent hole sizes.
 23. The one-piece lid ofclaim 18, wherein the vent hole is located proximal to the dispensingwell for allowing blockage of the vent hole by beverage when thedrinking vessel is tipped to a near horizontal orientation, therebyinhibiting beverage flow from the dispensing well.
 24. The one-piece lidof claim 1, wherein at least one surface of the lid includes at leastone of a texture and a protruding structure configured to influence flowof beverage across said at least one surface.
 25. The one piece lid ofclaim 1, wherein said lid is constructed from at least one of paper,plastic, thermoplastic resin, foam, a laminated material, a compostableresin, and a biodegradable material.
 26. The one piece lid of claim 1,wherein said lid is manufactured by one of thermoforming, injectionmolding, compression molding, vacuum forming, pressure forming, andhydro forming.
 27. The one piece lid of claim 1, wherein said lid isinjection molded from a suitable grade of polypropylene resin.
 28. Theone-piece lid of claim 1, wherein said lid is disposable.
 29. The onepiece lid of claim 1, wherein said well penetration is in the form of anopening disposed in a plane approximately parallel to an upright axis ofthe cup.
 30. The one-piece lid of claim 1 further comprising adrink-through opening in said raised lid portion.
 31. The one-piece lidof claim 30, wherein said drink-through opening is one of circular,rectangular, oval, and semi-circular.
 32. The one-piece lid of claim 1,wherein the dispensing well and well penetration are configured toinhibit entry of solid particulates from the drinking vessel into thedispensing well.
 33. The disposable lid of claim 1, wherein saidbeverage is a drinkable fluid including one of tea, coffee, soup, shake,juice, and milk.
 34. A splash resistant lid for a drink cup comprising:a peripheral rim adapted for engaging with said drink cup; a raisedportion extending upwardly from said peripheral rim; and a dispensingwell disposed in said raised portion, said dispensing well comprising adrink-through opening, a bottom wall and a peripheral sidewall connectedto said bottom wall, said dispensing well featuring at least one inletopening disposed proximate to an edge of said bottom wall, said inletopening being adapted for receiving a beverage from said drink cup andtransferring it to said drink-through opening, said dispensing wellbeing adapted for drinking said beverage therethrough, and said inletopening being disposed in a plane substantially orthogonal to saiddrink-through opening and thereby inhibiting straight line paths betweenan interior of said drink cup and said drink-through opening.
 35. Thesplash resistant lid according to claim 34, wherein said bottom wallcomprises at least one inclined section, said inclined section having anunderside, said underside being adapted to deflect any splashes andblock them from entering said drink-through opening.
 36. The splashresistant lid according to claim 34, wherein said bottom wall comprisesat least one inclined section, said inclined section having a topside,said topside being adapted to drain back any splashes to said interiorof said drink cup through said inlet opening.
 37. The splash resistantlid according to claim 34, wherein said lid is injection molded.
 38. Thesplash resistant lid according to claim 34, wherein said lid is madefrom polypropylene resin.
 39. The splash resistant lid according toclaim 34, wherein said raised portion comprises a drinking spout andforms a one piece construction.
 40. The splash resistant lid accordingto claim 34, further comprising at least one splash guard descendingfrom said raised portion towards the interior of said drink cup.
 41. Thesplash resistant lid according to claim 34, further comprising a fluidbaffle positioned underneath said dispensing well.
 42. The splashresistant lid according to claim 41, wherein said fluid baffle isrotatable about a living hinge.